on october 22, the e.p.a. announced that because fire hydrants are occasionally, but rarely, used in the stream of human water consumption, they are not exempt under the act. this means any hydrant manufactured or installed 33 days from now must have a lead content that meets the statutory standard. the e.p.a.'s conclusion was based on a technical reading of the statute and because the rules -- rule's announcement takes effect in early january, the solution is this brief but important legislation. the worry for water utilities and firefighters is that hydrants can break without warning. often as a result of vehicular accidents. winter is a busy team for replacing hydrants, due in part to freezing road conditions. but neither water utilities nor firefighters can tolerate a hydrant that are not certified to meet strict performance standards and parameters. high dranlts must never get -- hydrants must never get stuck closed and should never leak. why do hydrants contain tiny amounts of lead in the brass alloys in